Complaint #201405657,
May 6, 2014

Officer: Alston, Merlin
Complainant: Black Female, 33
Allegation: Force: Physical force
CCRB Conclusion: Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
Officer: Alston, Merlin
Complainant: Black Female, 33
Allegation: Force: Pepper spray
CCRB Conclusion: Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
Officer: Alston, Merlin
Complainant: Black Female, 33
Allegation: Discourtesy: Word
CCRB Conclusion: Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
Officer: Lynch, Seth
Complainant: Black Female, 33
Allegation: Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched
CCRB Conclusion: Unsubstantiated
Officer: Alston, Merlin
Complainant: Black Female, 33
Allegation: Offensive Language: Other
CCRB Conclusion: Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
Officer Complainant Allegation CCRB Conclusion
Alston, Merlin Black Female, 33 Force: Physical force Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
Alston, Merlin Black Female, 33 Force: Pepper spray Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
Alston, Merlin Black Female, 33 Discourtesy: Word Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated
Lynch, Seth Black Female, 33 Abuse of Authority: Strip-searched Unsubstantiated
Alston, Merlin Black Female, 33 Offensive Language: Other Miscellaneous - Subject Terminated

Conclusion Meanings:

'Unsubstantiated': or 'Unable to Determine' - The alleged conduct was investigated but could not determine both that the conduct occurred and that it broke the rules.

Further details on conclusions.


Summary

On May 6, 2014 at approximately 6:18 p.m., [redacted] allegedly engaged in a hand to hand drug transaction for a quantity of crack/cocaine which she then swallowed when the officers approached her in front of 2273 Morris Avenue in the Bronx (encl. E5-E7, blue folder). After being transported to the 46th Precinct, [redacted] alleged that she was strip-searched by an unidentified female officer before being transported to [redacted], after being informed by an officer that [redacted] swallowed drugs, they tested her urine which came back positive for marijuana. [redacted]s aunt, alleged that PO Merlin Alston performed an anal cavity search in plain view of the street and recovered a bag of marijuana from [redacted]s buttocks (encl. D30). (Allegation A). At swallowed drugs, they [redacted]s
On June 7, 2014, at approximately 12:20 a.m. at the intersection of Field Place and Creston Avenue in the Bronx, officers observed [redacted] again in a hand to hand drug transaction for a quantity of crack/cocaine which she again swallowed after being arrested (encl. E10-E12, blue folder). [redacted] alleged that while she was being handcuffed by the officers, PO Alston pushed her face into the ground (Allegation B) and stated to the surrounding crowd of civilians, "Back the fuck up," and "If any of ya'll niggers or any of ya'll bitches record, I'll slap your fucking phone" (Allegation C and D). While being transported to the 46th Precinct, [redacted] alleged that after she refused to provide information in regards to crimes that occurred in the neighborhood, PO Alston punched her in the face approximately ten times (within Allegation B) and called her a "gay bitch," "dyke bitch" and stated, "You think because you hang with all them niggers you're tough" (within Allegation D). [redacted] alleged that PO Alston then threw her out of the prisoner van (within Allegation B) and pepper sprayed her (Allegation E). At the 46th Precinct, [redacted] again alleged that she was strip-searched by PO Andrea Ojobi and PO Nadine Nazario... Read report for details.


Details

Incident: May 6, 2014
Received: July 24, 2014
Closed: April 9, 2015

Reason for contact: PD suspected C/V of violation/crime - street
Location: Street/highway
In NYPD 46th Precinct Bronx
Outcome: Arrest - other violation/crime

Witness Officers: Nadine Burgos, Daniel Kern, Marco Morrone, Brendan Murphy, Andrea Ojobi